Janine LaManna
Janine LaManna | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 14, 1966 |
| Other names | Janine McDermott |
| Education | Wagner College |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1988 – present |
| Spouse |
Mike McDermott (m. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
Janine LaManna (born June 14, 1966) is an American actress and singer.[1][2] She is known for her extensive work in Broadway musicals and she is the first actress to portray the live-action character of Carmen Sandiego on the PBS series Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?.[3][4][5][6]
Early life and education
Janine LaManna was born in Rochester, New York.[7] She graduated from Wagner College and she was honored with the Wagner College Fellows Award in recognition for her professional achievements.[1]
Career
LaManna has worked in many Broadway productions.[8][6][5] Her performance in Seussical as Gertrude McFuzz earned her a Drama Desk Award nomination.[6]
LaManna's Broadway credits include roles in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1994–1996), Chicago (1997–2000), Ragtime (1998–2000), Kiss Me, Kate (1999–2001), Seussical (2000–2001) for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination, Sweet Charity (2005), and The Drowsy Chaperone (2007).[5][6] She has also appeared in numerous regional and Off-Broadway productions, such as Evita, Aida (IRNE-nominated), Noises Off, and The Prom.[1]
LaManna originated the live-action role of Carmen Sandiego in the first season of the PBS series Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? in 1996.[7][1][9] Her other screen credits include appearances in the film Two Weeks Notice, she voiced The Sirens for Samurai Jack, a role as Paquette in Great Performances, and a role in Devious Maids.[1][10][11]
As a singer, LaManna has performed in solo concerts and as a guest artist internationally.[5] A highlight of her career was singing at the White House in 2007 for the National Military Spouse Appreciation Day event.[1] She debuted her solo concert "Black & Gold" in New York in 2023.[12]
Personal life
LaManna is married to retired U.S. Army Major Mike McDermott, with whom she has two children including a daughter Mia McDermott and a son Liam McDermott.[7][6] As a military spouse, she has spoken about balancing her acting career with military family life, relocating to North Carolina near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg).[5] In addition to performing, LaManna works as a vocal coach.[1]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? | Carmen Sandiego | PBS series[3] |
| 2005 | Great Performances | Paquette | Episode: Leonard Bernstein's Candide, a Comic Operetta in Two Acts |
| 2015 | Devious Maids | Party Goer | Episode: Awakenings[1] |
Animation
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Samurai Jack | The Siren | Episode: The Scotsman Saves Jack: Part II[13] |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Two Weeks Notice | Elaine Cominsky | [1] |
Stage
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Venue(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Evita | Eva Perón | Pittsburgh Musical Theater | [14] |
| 1994 | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Spider Woman / Aurora | Broadhurst Theatre | [1] |
| 1997 | Chicago | Velma Kelly / June | West End | [1] |
| 1998 | Ragtime | Evelyn Nesbit | Broadway | [1] |
| 1999 | Swing! | Ms. Callaway & Ms. Benanti | St. James Theatre | [1] |
| 2000 | Seussical | Gertrude McFuzz | Boston Tryout | Drama Desk Award nomination[6] |
| 2001 | Kiss Me, Kate | Lois Lane / Bianca | Victoria Palace Theatre | [1] |
| 2003 | Harmony | Performer | Forrest Theatre | [15] |
| 2003 | The Look of Love | Performer | Brooks Atkinson Theatre | [1] |
| 2004 | Candide | Paquette | Philharmonic concert | [1] |
| 2004 | Aida | Amneris | North Shore Music Theatre | [16] |
| 2005 | Sweet Charity | Nickie | Al Hirschfeld Theatre | [1] |
| 2007 | The Drowsy Chaperone | Janet Van De Graaff | West End production | [1] |
| 2019 | Noises Off | Belinda Blair | The Cape Playhouse | [17] |
| 2022 | The Prom | Dee Dee Allen | White Plains Performing Arts Center | [18] |
| 2023 | Black & Gold | Performer | The Green Room 42 | [19] |
| 2024 | In the Spotlight | Seussical | 354 West 54th Street | |
| 2025 | Regency Girls | Lady Catherine & Madame Restell | The Old Globe | [20][21] |
| 2026 | Oedipus! | Jocasta | 54 Below |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Title | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Drama Desk Awards | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | Seussical | [6] |
| 2002 | 44th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Musical Show Album | Nominated | [1] | |
| 2004 | Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | Aida | [1] |
| 2006 | Wagner College | Wagner College Fellows Awards | Honoured | For Professional Achievement | [1] |
| 2019 | BroadwayWorld Jackson Awards | Best Lead Actress in a Musical | Won | The Sweet Potato Queens | [22] |
| 2023 | BroadwayWorld Regional Awards | Best Performer In A Musical | Nominated | The Prom | [23] |
| 2025 | San Diego Theater Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Nominated | Regency Girls | [24] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Janine LaManna". Wagner College. October 4, 2025.
- ^ Who was Who on TV - Volume 3. Norman Chance. p. 464.
- ^ a b Van Luling, Todd (2016-08-16). "My 20-Year Quest To Find Carmen Sandiego". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
- ^ "Who In the World Was Carmen Sandiego? We Finally Know the Answer". 18 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Army Wife, Broadway star". The Fayetteville Observer. June 4, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Great Wagner Way". Wagner Magazine. November 10, 2025.
- ^ a b c "From Broadway to Fort Bragg". The Fayetteville Observer. September 25, 2013.
- ^ American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle - Page 844. Oxford University Press. p. 844.
- ^ "Carmen Sandiego Finally Found After 20 Years". People Magazine. February 6, 2026.
- ^ "Janine LaManna (visual voices guide)" (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.). Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ "Voice of Siren - Samurai Jack | Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors (Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources). Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ "Interview: Janine LaManna of BLACK AND GOLD at The Green Room 42 June 10th". Broadway World. June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Samurai Jack". Behind the Voice Actors. May 1, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ "EVITA: PMT PRODUCTION IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE LOCAL BLOCKBUSTER FOR 1993". Deseret News. April 25, 1993.
- ^ "Harmony Starts Dec. 2 in Philadelphia, a Week Later Than Expected". Playbill. November 3, 2003.
- ^ "LaManna and Schiappa Join North Shore Aida". Playbill. August 26, 2004.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (August 7, 2019). "Jeremy Webb, Janine LaManna, Jennifer Cody Join SNL's Heidi Gardner in Noises Off at Cape Playhouse". Playbill. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ "West Milford native to star in 'The Prom' in White Plains". West Milford Messenger. October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Janine LaManna to Make New York Solo Concert Debut With BLACK & GOLD at The Green Room 42". Broadway World. May 16, 2023.
- ^ "In the new musical 'Regency Girls,' young women in trouble discover empowerment on a road trip". Los Angeles Times. April 14, 2025.
- ^ "From Staten Island to San Diego: Wagner alums bring Regency Girls to life". Wagner College. August 8, 2025.
- ^ "Winners Announced For 2019 BroadwayWorld Jackson, MS Awards". Broadway World. January 14, 2020.
- ^ "BroadwayWorld Rockland / Westchester Awards; SEUSSICAL, POPCORN FALLS, Westchester Sandbox Theater & More Lead!". Broadway World. December 11, 2023.
- ^ "San Diego theater critics announce 2025 Craig Noel Award nominees". San Diego Union-Tribune. January 1, 2026.